Meeting Richard Rogers in the Kaohsiung MRT Central Park Station

A French publication named “La Défense”, which I got for free from a theme Expo many years ago, introduces the constantly evolving of a great city in terms of its main buildings. With so many exquisite pictures within this book, it really intrigues me to explore more about architecture.

From this book, I read about the spirits of the millennium year has offered architects new prospects in their designs. I then go deeper to get the concept of Millenarianism from Wiki (Millennium is from the Latin mille, “one thousand” and annus, “Year”,) and understand how its main idea from the religious belief--the expectation of a new better future in the world, influence people. Therefore, to welcome Millennium, architecture is designed to display innovation, renewal with high-end technology and evolved materials, especially the shape of the building can be very surreal: tormented, curved, complex or out-of-box… beyond your imagination!

Among the superb Millennium-concept architecture, one of the great masters is Richard George Rogers, best known for his great work on the Pompidou Centre in Paris and Millennium Dome in London. Can you believe it? He once was dyslexic and was always at the bottom of his class in his early days, but he attended the AA (Architectural Association School of Architecture) in London later, and finally was rewarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize – architecture's highest honour! 

The Pompidou Centre in Paris, France (source:wikipedia)

Millennium Dome in London, UK (source: wikipedia)

His work is noted for the modernist and functionalist designs in high-tech architecture. Words like urbanism, controversial, sustainability, safety, and vitality, controversial and iconic are often used to describe his work. Luckily, there is one building in Taiwan- the Kaohsiung MRT Central Park Station-designed by British architect Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside. 

the Kaohsiung MRT Central Park Station

A mini water cycle pouring down in a waterfall off the top

Its surrounding natural landscape contrasting with the high-tech engineering science spreads out an ambience of hard and soft, urban and nature, speaking for our better future. 

"YES" and "NO" in My Summer Food Lists

This summer comes earlier and gets hotter than ever. We all know that the issue of global warming and EI Nino make climate changes, meteorologists have pointed out worrisome figures showing our earth is in danger. Such-and-such uncontrollable environmental threats are happening and we definitely have felt the change year by year.
And what I talk about summer here (Taiwan) means the temperature up to 30 Celsius degree or higher. It is hard to have a pleasant mood, a good appetite and sleep, also makes less productive in work. Exaggerate? No! Therefore, some basic “YES” and “NO” I recommend in summer diet to help live through insane hot summer.

The sun is still like a burning ball in the sunset moment in south Taiwan

Let's start with a cold drink. Fruit juice -- “YES”; beers —“NO” because if you sweat a lot, fruit juice help you get vitamin C, which supply your body with the recovery power and against the evil sunshine. For remark! Artificial juice is still “NO”; natural one is 100% “YES” !! And in fact, iced beer may bring you temporary happy while alcohol strips more water from your body after that.

"YES"--authentic pineapple juice 

Fruit juice is better than beers but artificial one is "NO"!

No appetites? Try some spicy food and herbal cuisine, let the colourful plant spice stimulate your eyesight, awake your tongue, active your stomach. Why not consider some Thailand or Korean food--YES, but when it comes to eat noodle, Japanese Ramenラーメン—“NO” (hot soup and comfort elements suitable for the winter!)

 

"YES" stimulate the tongue!  (photoed at Bangkok)

"YES" active the stomach!  (photoed at Bangkok)

"YES" to herbal cuisine, comfort cuisine!  (photoed at Seoul)

 "YES" Enjoy the eyesight!  (photoed at Blue Elephant, Bangkok)

Outdoor BBQ under the big killing sun?—“NO”; BBQ inside a restaurant with cozy air conditions?—“YES”! Please don't try to prepare all the materials by yourself, those chores will drive you crazy, remember, the reason is that we human being are not so patient and calm in such a hot weather. It is better just go to a nice restaurant to eat like a king with friends without leaving leftovers and dishes waiting the host to wash.

BBQ outside is extremely hard-work, "NO WAY!!  (photoed at Bangkok)

BBQ inside a nice restaurant with friends "YES" (photoed at Jeju island)

Last but not the least, we don't want to reject ice cream, which is born for the hot weather, isn’t it? So eat ice cream wisely, choose products consist of yogurt, fruit with low-fat and low- sugar. Because too much sugar only makes people feel thirstier. I would like to praise the Okinawa salty ice cream; it adds the sea salt making all the flavour balance and supply the essential need-salt for our body in a sweating season. So over-sweet ice cream—"NO"; but good-selected ice cream as I mentioned above —"YES"!!

It consists of only brown sugar and bulk of ice cubes, I know its popular...but I say NO!

Yukisio-salt ice cream for me is "YES" (photoed at Okinawa)